Automobile-lock.



c. A. PETERSEN. AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

WITNESS/5S CHRISTIAN ALFRED PETERS'EN, or BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMOBILE-Loox.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Application filed November 16, 1'915. Serial No. 61,828.

To all 'whom 'it may concern.:y

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN A. lirrnnsiax, a citizen of the United States, i'esiding at Beverly in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a .new and useful Automobile-Lock, of which the following is a specification.y

The present invention relates to an im Iproved lock for automobiles,` or the like, and has for an object to'provide means for securing the operative parts of the vehicle in such position that the vehicle cannot be started, and to so lock the drivers scat that it caim'ot .be occupied, unless released by the authorized pei'son.

The invention aims at the provision of a seat, which, as soon as the driver dismounts from the vehicle, will automatically move into a position, and lock itself in such position wherein the seat cannot be occupied,

unless it is unlocked or released lby thev proper authority, and which, when so locked, will hold the operative parts of the machine securely from movement; such as the steering mechanism, and the gasolene supply valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seat which is hinged, and which is adapted to be swung up into engagement against the steering wheel, and having fingers for engagement between .the spokes of the steering wheel to prevent the turning of the latter, the lingers being yieldable to engage the under side of the spokes, should the same register with the fingers upon the raising of the seat, and to automatically project the fingers up 4between the spokes, should attempt be made to turn the steering wheel. v

A still further object of the invention is vto provide a device with a latcliing attachment whereby when the seat is unlocked, the saine may be heldin partially depressed position, so that the parts of the machine may be operated to shift the machine, oi" to test the parts of the same, such as in repairing, the latching attachment being automatically releasableA upon the depression of the seat into operati-ve position to admit of the automatic movement of the seat into locked position, should the driver afterward leave the vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of this in` vention willv be fully brought ont in the following description of .the present preferred embodiment of this invention, the

back of the driver.

samebeing illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sideclevation of tlie improved seat, and its attachments, in the position which 'it assumes when occupied` the dotted lines showing the position of the seat after vthe driver has left the same. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. taken through the seat and its parts, the same being' adjusted into locked position. Fig. -S is a top plan view of the seat supporting casing, showingthe parts therein in locked position. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the seat and its casing, taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1, and showing the parts in position when the driver is seated. Fig". 5 is a transverse section, taken through thc device in the position shown in Fig. 1, on tlie'line of Fig. 1.'

Referring to this drawing, wherein like parts are designated .by similar numerals of reference throughout the several views, 10 designates the base board of a seat construction usually formed in the body of a motor vehicle, and provided at its rear edge with an upwardlj7 extending back 11,'hav'- ing the desired cushions or upliolstering to provide for a comfortable support for the This base board 10 is providedupon its upper face with a casing 12 of any desired form, but which is shown in thepresent instance as being substantially rectangular and elongated, extending lengthwise from front to rear across the base 10.v The casing 12 is secured to the base 10 by any suitable means. such as by screws 13, countersunk into the base 10. The casing 12 has, at its opposite sides .and at its upper edges, outstanding ears 1l, which receive and support laterally extending lugs l15, carried upon a cover 1G, closing the top of the casing 12. The cover 1G is held in Aplace b v screws 17, or .the like, passing through the lugs 15, and into the -ears 14. y

'Longitudinallyarranged in each side ofV thecasing 12, is an lexpanding coil spring 18,'the springs being separated at their inner ends by an intermediate web 19 projecting forwardly from the rear wall of thecasing 12 between the springs, as shown to advantage in- Fig. 3, this web 19 providing, .loe-l tween they same and the sides of the casing 12, seats for the spi-ings. to hold the saine from lateral displacement, when placed under compression. As will be noted-from Fig. 4, the sides and bottom of the casing 12 are joined by rounded corners or faces, which conform substantially to thev curva ture of the springs 18. In the forward end of the casing 12 is mounted a` traveler 20. This traveler 20 comprises a block extending across the inside of the casing, and adapted for longitudinal movement of the casing at its forward end,.the springs 18 bearing against the i'ear side of the traveler 20, to normally urge the same into the forward end of the easing. The traveler 2O is provided with a latch 21. The latch is substantially U-shape, as shown in Fig. and has the legs thereof projecting downwardly through the traveler 20 for engagement in keeper slots 22, formed in transverse alineineiit within the bottom of the casing 12.

Above the opposite ends of the latch 21 are springs 23v retained in recesses 24`forined in the traveler 20 and seated at their lower ends in pockets 25 formed in the upper faces of the ends of the latch 21. It will be noted that the portions of the latch 21 in which the seats 25 are formed, extend upwardly into the recesses 24 to a suilicientdistance to hold the. latch 21 in vertical alineinent at all times, and prevent any lateral twisting of the latch incident to pressure upon the traveler 20, to move the saine backwardly Within the casing. The front wall of the casing 12 is provided with an escutcheon plate 26 in registry with a key slot or opening 27 formed in hthe front of the traveler 20, the slot or opening 2T, as inay be best seen from Fig. 5, lying partly below the lower surface of the intermediate portion of the latch 21, so that when the barrel 28 of a key is projected through the escutcheon plate 2G and into the opening 27, the barrel will engage beneath the 'latch 21, and lift the saine sufficiently to clear the keeper slots 22.

Projecting rearwardly from the casing 12 a pair of spaced apart bracket ears 29, be-

tween which is hinged, upon a pin 30, a depending' lug 31. The lug 31 is carried upon the rear end of a seat plate 32, adapted to swing down upon the top of the casing 12 and support a cushion 33, which forms the seat proper of the vehicle. The'forward end of the seat plate is provided with a pair of depending spaced apart ears 34 between which is hin-ged the upper end of a support- .ing arm the latter' being hinged upon a traveler 20 is retracted, the intermediate portion of the arin will lie horizontally within the recess 33 across the upper face of the traveler. It will be noted that the top 1G of the vcasing is provided with a longitudinal slot 40, through which the arin projects, the slot being of sufficient length to admit the fi'ee movement of the arm during the travel of the follower in the casing. The front wall of the casing is likewise provided with a slot 41 in its upper edge registering with the slot 40, and adapted to receive the lower edge of the outer end of the arm lVhen the traveler 2O is in its outermost position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the seat- 33 is swung up at an angle, as shown in Fig. 2, and the seat plate projects slightly beyond the forward edge of the cushion 22 to provide a stop or rest 42, for engagement beneath the steering wheel 43 of the vehicle. The outer'extremity of the arm 35 beyond the pivot pin 36 is transversely enlarged to provide a cylindrical housing 44, the upper i end of which terminates immediately' below the plane of the spokes 45 of the steering wheel. The housing 44, which may be of any desired width or size, is provided with one or more locking pins 4G projecting through the upper end of the housing 44, each pin having a head 47 upon its inner end slidable vertically in a counterbore formed in the-housing 44. An expansion spring 48 in the housing 44 bears against the head '47 and is adjusted, as to its tension, against the head, by a screw cap 49, mounted in the lower .end of the housing 44. The pins or fingers 46 are adapted to project upwardly beyond the housing 44, and into the path of the spokes 45 of the steering wheel when the latter is rotated to 'limit the rotation thereof. and consequently prevent the operation of the steering gear.

At one side of the casing, a hook 50 is pivoted, the saine having a preferably rearwardly and upwardly extending bill 51,

adapted to engage over a laterally extending pin 52 carried upon the seat plate 32. It

' will be noted, from Fig. 1 particularly, that the pin is offset forwardly from the vertical plane of the pivot of the hook 50, so that when the hook 50 is in engagement with the pin 52, the hook inclines forwardly, and the hook 50 is of such a lengthy that it binds against the pin 52 only when the seat is raised slightly to tension the pin in the bill of the hook. pressed, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the pin 52 is moved below the bill 51 of the hook. and the latter, .by reason of its for- `wardly inclined position, drops by gravity into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. out of the path of the pin 52. The purpose of this` arrangement and actionfis that when the driver is seated, the hook 50 is automatically released from the pin 52, and moved out of the way, so that When the Thus, when the seat is de-y the bar 54 is drawn up, and the valve 57 driver-again disinounts from the vehicle, the seat will automatically rise and lock, and vnot be hindered by the hook 50. Thus, the dell? vice does not depend upon the-memory. of the operator to release the hook, but-the device` 1s automatically released, so that it will automatically assume thelooked position,

when the driver leavesthe vehicle.

It is also a purpose of this invention to utilize this movement of the seat, vand the lockingof the same insuch'position that itcannot be used, for the 'purpose of controlling the adjustment or use of'other controlling elements on the vehicle.'l For instance, in the drawing, the plate` 32 is shown, as

having pairs of apertured lugs 53 at its opposite sides adapted-t0 have connection With any. suitable devices to 'be controlled. In

Figs. 1 and 4, one pair of lugs 53 is shown, as having pivotal connection with a bar 54 passing downwardly through an'opening 55 in the base 10, and being pivoted at its lower end to an'arm56 of a con rolling valve 57,'

locatedA in the gasolene line or pipe 58. Thus, when the seat ,is raised land locked into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l,

. actuated to cut ofi' the flow'of gasolene, and

lthus prevent the running of the motor to :drive the vehicle.

- desired to operate the machine, the driver inserts the key 28 in the escutcheon plate 26 and opening 27. and turns the key to raise the latch 21 to clear the keeperopenings 22. As soon `as the latch 21 is raised, 'the seat maybe forced down and ocupied so as to hold the seat down against the tension of the relatively heavy springs 18. When theseat is forced down, the arm 35 is swung in- 4 wardly against the bottom of the sea-t plate 32. and the traveler 2O is forced backwardly V within the casing, the sides, bottom, and top thereof serving as a guide for the traveler, to compress the springs 18. `This rearward swinging of the arm 35 draws the housing 4l on the outer end thereof down out ofengagemieut with the steering wheel 43. The diction removes the pins or lingers 16 from the-path of the spokes 45. and thus admits of the free operation of the steering wheel. At the same time, the lugs are moved down withv the seat. plate 32. so that the bar 5l is forced downwardly through the opening' 55 in the base 10. and caused to open the valve 5T to' 'admit thefree flow of the controllingHuidthrough :the supply pipe 5S. Should( it be' desired to'retain the seat down, and at the same time admit ofthe operator leaving the seat, theliook '.50 is raised i intothe path ofthepin 52, and the. seat a -lowed to spring up through a. short distance.

This slightV movement of. the seat engagesthe pin .52' within. the b1ll51 of the hoo-k, and tensions thej pin in the hook, so -that the hook is held. bythe frictionall contact ofthe pin therewith, as well as byre'ason of the slight curvatureV of the bill 51. As above eX- plained, the hl'ook A50 is automatically released. when the operator occupies the seat, as the seat is moved down the pin 52 is removed from the hook 50and the latter is permitted to swing, .by gravity, out of the path of the pin 52. Asfsoon as the operator rises from the seat', the latter springs upwardly by the forward movement of the traveler 20, and the lifting of the arm 35,

the hook 50 being out of the way, so that the locking operation is automatic. It'will be noted that 'these yieldable pins w-lG are employed in the outer extremity ofrthe lever 35. The pins'are made yieldable for the reason" that should the steering wheel be stopped in a position to locate one of the spokes 45 immediately above the pin, the locking of the seat would not befhindered, as the pins 4:6 would bear against the lower side of the spokes 45, and would be in position to spring up between the spokes upon the slight movement of the steering wheel, and thus prevent the return of the steering wheel to i-ts initial position, or prevent anv appreciable further turning of the same. f

Although one form of this invention has,

been specifically set forth, as above, it is to' be understood that it is within the spirit of this invention to make changes and modifi-v cation in the. relative arrangement and formation pf the various parts, which are shown in the accompanying drawing and above described,'and that these changes or modifications are restricted only by the following claims, and are for the purposes of adapting the present invention to vehicles of different types, and to conditions found in the lnanu-- so that it may swing upwardlvv Afrom the front toward and in engagement with the steering wheel in an inclined position substantially in line with the top of the steering wheel. and means for locking the wheel and seat in such relation.

3. ln combination with a steering wheel` and a movable seat. means for raising the seat auto1miticall \Y upon its beingvvacated loo by the chauffeur', and locking meansA provided on the seat to engage the steering wheel when the seat is raised, whereby operation of the steering wheel is prevented. y I. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a steering wheel, and a seat, of means for automatically swinging the seat into position to prevent use thereof, means for snnultaneously locking the Steering wheel to'the seat to prevent the turning of the steering wheel, and Ineans for automatically locking the seat in its inoperative position.

In a motor vehicle, the combination with a steering wheel, and a seat, of means folutomatically raising the seat into engagement with the steering wheel to prevent use of the seat, and prevent operation of the steering wheel, and means for locking the seat in such inoperative position.

6. In Va motor vehicle, the combination with a steering wheel, and a seatI located in rear thereof, means for hinging the seat at the rear so that it may swing upwardly in an ,inclined position with its front end substantially in line with the top of the said wheel, means for raising the seat automatically to such position upon its being vacated by the chauffeur, and means for locking the seat in its raised position.

7. In combination with a seat, means for hinging the same, means for automatically raising the seat to an inoperative position upon its being vacated by the occupant, means for locking the seat in such position, and a holding device adapted to hold the seat down in normal position in opposition to4 said raising means, said holding device being automatically released by the weight of the occupant upon the seat.

8. In combination with a casing, a seat hinged at one end thereto, an arm pivoted upon the seat at the free end of the'latter, spring-actuated means within the casing for moving said arm to raise the seat'above the casing, and means for locking said raising means to retain the seat in its raised position.

9. In a moto'i` vehicle, the combination with a steering wheel, and'- a seat, o f means for automatically raising the seat into engagement with the steering wheel, means for locking the seat in such position, and a holding device adapted to retain the seat in operative position when not in use, and being automatically releasable by the use of the seat.

10. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a steering wheel, and a seat, of a hinge for supporting the seat, an arm pivoted to the seat in spaced relation to the hinge, means for normalllv,7 swinging the arm down beneath the seat to raise the latter against the steering wheel, engaging means carried upon the outer end of the arm, and projecting forwardly from the seat to project up into the steering wheel, whenthe arm 'is swung down, and means for locking said arm when swung down,to hold-the seat and the steering wheel from movement.

11. In a mot'or vehicle, the combinati-0111.70

with a steering wheel. `and a pivotedsear. of an arm pivoted upon theseat, SpringseilgagingA the arm` to -force'the latter downwardly from beneath the seat to elevate the latter againstthe steering wheel; a iretaining finger carried upon the 'outerendof the arm adapted tobe swung up into -engagement with the spokes ofthe steering wheel upon the downward movement of the arm, and means for locking the arm from movement when swung down. I

12. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a steering wheel, and a seat. of a casing beneath the seat for-pivotally supporting the same, a traveler movable longitudinally in the casing, springs in the casing normally urging the traveler forwardly` an arm pivoted to the traveler at one end, and pivoted to the, seat at its opposite end. whereby to raise the seat upon the forward movement of the traveler, and locking meansbetween the traveler and the casing to secure the traveler in the forward end of the casing, and hold the seat in elevated position.

13. In a. motor vehicle, the combination with a seat base, and a steering wheel, of a casing mounted on the seat base, a seat pivoted to the rear end of the casing and adapted for engagement at its forward end with the steering wheel, a` traveler in the casing, an llarm hinged at its opposite ends to said traveler and to the forward end of the seat, tensionmeans' in the casing engaging the traveler to -normally urge the same forwardly and lift the seat, a latch mounted in the traveler for engagement with the casing when the traveler is in the forward end thereof to lock the traveler from backward movement, and yielding pins carried at the outer end of the seat for engagement bctween the spokes ofthe steering wheel.

14. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a seat, and a steering wheel, of a casing beneath the seat to which the latter is hingedly connected, elevating means within the casing engaging the seat to raise the Same into engagement with the steering wheel, a ryieldable pin extending upwardly from the forward end of the seat; for engagement between the spokes of the steering wheel. said pin being adaptedto yield for engagement with a spoke when the latter registers immediately above the pin, and adapted to project upwardly between the spokesof the Wheel upon the slight rotation.

of the same.

15. Ina motor vehicle, the combination with a steering Wheel, and a seat, of a easing secured beneath the seat, and being hinged thereto at the rear end-of the seat', al traveler in the casing, an arm between the traveler and the seat, a palrof springs inthe easing bearing against the traveler to urge the same forwardly to raise the seat, a latcl'in the traveler for engagement with the casing at 'its forward end, means `or releasing the latrlr from the easing to admit of the backward movement of the traveler, and looking fingers carried upon the forwardvend of 'the i Seat, having connection with said traveler, to engage the fingers with the spokes of the steering wheel, when the'traveler is in itsl forward position. l

16. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a steering Wheel, a seat, and the operative parts of the vehicle, a hinged seat plate beneath the seat, an elevating arm pivoted Vto the seat plate, and adapted for movement therebeneath to raisel and lower the sea`t,'` locking fingers carried by the seat plate for `'engagement with the spokes of the steering wheel when the seat plate is raised, and

:pivot lugs carried by the seat plate for engagement with said operative parts of the vehicle to hold the@ same from operation upon the locking of the steering wheel.`

17.. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a steering wheel, a. seat base, and the operative parts of the vehicle, of'a casing fixed upon the seat base, and having rearwardly extending ears, a seat plate having,

a depending lug tting between said ears,

and having pivotal engagement therewith, a`

traveler'in the easing, springs in the oppo site sides of the casing engaging the travelerto urge the same forwardly, 'a web in the rear end of the casing dividing the same to provide spring seats for said springs in the sides of the casing, an arm pivoted at its outer end to the traveler, andl at its inner endvto the outer end of the. seat plate, a movable pin in the inner end of said arm, a.

spring in said arm engaging the pin to norl mally urge tlis'ame outwardly between the spokes ofthe steering wheel, means for locking the vtraveler in its forward position to CHBISTIANALFRED PETERSEN.

Witnesses:

JENS ArPEL HANSEN, LAURrrs AXEL PETERSEN.' 

